Community Corner

Marine Begins Appalachian Hike For Wounded Warriors

Born and raised in Dundalk, Maj. Ian Brooks is tackling the 2,000-mile plus Appalachian Trail, raising funds for the U.S. Marine Corps' Wounded Warrior Regiment program.

Before Ian Brooks become Maj. Ian Brooks, platoon commander for 4th Platoon, 4th Force Reconnaissance Company, 4th Marine Division, he played youth soccer at the Sacred of Heart of Mary School and developed a love of the outdoors near Millers Island, North Point State Park and mountains of western Maryland.

“My father, William Brooks, liked fishing and crabbing,” Brooks said. “My soccer coaches, Joe Marshall and TomMcCue, used to take groups of kids to western Maryland, and that’s where I really learned about hiking in the woods.”

Now Brooks, who was wounded while serving in Iraq, will bring together two of his great passions—hiking and the Marine Corps—with a purpose. Brooks, who attended Norwood Elementary and graduated from Holabird Middle School, and his dog Blue, set out Monday from Springer Mountain, GA.

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His mission is two-fold: hike 2,178 miles to Kahtadin Baxter Peak, Maine, by June 30, and raise $25,000 for the U.S. Marine Corps' Wounded Warrior Regiment program in the process.

“I think we’re ready to go,” Brooks said, in an interview with Patch.com a few days before his scheduled departure. “I just completed a weekend hike from Harpers Ferry to Front Royal, VA—two days, about 50 miles. That was the last gear check. I’ve got some blisters, but that’s okay.”

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The Marine Corps’ Wounded Warrior Regiment provides and facilitates non-medical care to combat and non-combat wounded marines and their family members in order to assist them as they return to duty or transition to civilian life.

When Brooks, who now lives in Hawaii, served as company commander for Fox Company, 2nd Battalion 5th Marines, his unit set out on its first patrol not long after arriving in Ar Ramadi, Iraq.

“During our first patrol, I was shot in the arm, my staff sergeant was shot in the leg and our interpreter was killed,” Brooks recounted. “The sergeant got evacuated out and went to the Wounded Warrior Regiment and now he’s a Marine Corps officer after completing rehab. They (the Wounded Warrior Regiment) help wounded men and women get back into the fight or back into society through their program.”

Brooks maintained contact with his staff sergeant, initially evacuated to Germany and then to 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, to the Wounded Warrior Regiment during his recovery process.

Though awarded a Purple Heart and a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with combat distinguishing device for his actions on the patrol, Brooks did not need to be evacuated, but his thoughts were with those who were. Today, the 36-year-old is a Marine Corps Reserve officer and he said he now has time to fulfill his long-held goals of hiking the Appalachian Trail and helping those who helped his battlefield friends.

Initially, Brooks hoped to raise $15,000 from his hike for the Wounded Warrior Regiment, but he'd already surpassed that mark by the time he left for Springer Mountain. His largest sponsor has been the wellness product company, Omega XL, which donated $10,000 for the cause.

His new goal is $25,000.

Numerous VFW halls along the way have offered support, as have family and friends, such as Darl Kolar, a middle school pal from Dundalk, who will hike part of the way with Brooks, as well as Virginia Military Institute cadets. Brooks said one of the nice side benefits of the 120-day hike is that it offers him a unique chance to walk in the woods and reconnect with friends.

He added that one of the biggest things he’s realized already is that hiking the Appalachian Trail and fundraising aren't things he can do.

“It all depends on the kindness of others,” Brooks said.

Brooks has set up a website with information about the hike, including his tentative schedule, and means for people to make contributions at http://ahikeforhelp.com/.

He also has a Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Hike-For-Help-Ian-Brooks/103095839769466. Brooks can also be reached via e-mail at ianpatrickbrooks@hotmail.com.


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